Patina is an organic and natural layer that forms on quality wood, leather, metal, stone, canvas, and other materials. It is a word that is used too much in the leather world, to the point where it is almost unnecessary. Cheap and low-quality leather and other materials will never develop patina. Let's not get stuck in a cycle of mysteries. Instead, let's break down the true nature of patina and figure out what is patina on leather jacket and how to patina leather.
What Does Leather Patina Meaning?
Patina is a transparent sheen that appears on materials and fabrics over time with use and exposure. It gives things an antique look. Different types of leather has different type of patina depending on the quality of leather and time period. Patina just makes full-grain leather look more real because it doesn't show up on cheaper types of leather, like genuine or bonded leather.
When you think of leather patina before and after, you’re seeing a transformation like a rich, well-worn, vintage look that can’t be artificially created. This is part of the reason why patina leather jackets are so highly sought after.
How to Patina Leather: The Aging Process
Leather has a lot of personality. Even when you touch it with your bare hands to put your card in your wallet, it will add to the leather's character and look. It quickly absorbs its surroundings, and every touch, scratch, and scrape makes the patina grow. Leather, like a win, gets better with age and shows off its scars and scrapes. There are a number of things that speed up the process of patina development, some of which are listed below:
- Oil Dust Particles
- Moisture in the air and humidity
- Colors in clothes
- Friction and scratches
Sunlight
Being in the sun is one of the most important things that causes leather to age. The UV rays slowly darken the leather, giving it the deep, rich color that we love. Areas that get more sun (like the back of a leather jacket) will become darker.
Body Oils
One interesting thing about leather is that it soaks up the oils from your skin. The oils in your jacket help soften the leather and give it that shiny, worn-in look every time you wear it. So, yes, your touch is partly what makes your leather jacket's brown color richer.
Wear and Tear
Leather gets better the more you wear it, just like your favorite pair of jeans. The leather gets creased and worn as you move and sit, which gives leather jackets their unique texture that we all love.
Time
Patina is what happens over time. As time goes on, the changes in your leather jacket or bag become more obvious. That's why real leather cafe racer jackets for men look even better as they get older.
What Kind of Leather Gets the Best Patina?
Full-grain leather or real leather develops the best patina over time, after vegetable-tanned leather, because it is the least touched or processed. Full-grain leather patina is not only the best kind of leather, but it is also very strong and has little to no color.
How to Speed Up the Leather Patina Process?
You could think of leather as a living breed that can grow and breathe. When you look at leather in that light, you'll see that patina development is very similar to the process of getting older. It takes its own time, and every piece of leather takes its own time. It is a natural process and is the only way to get a patina that looks and feels natural.
How to Make Patina Take Longer?
As we said before, patina is a very common thing. You can't stop it, and you shouldn't because it makes leather look better. If you want to keep your leather product in its original condition, the best thing you can do is try to slow down the process of patina by cleaning and conditioning the leather on a regular basis.
Is Patina a Good Thing?
Patina shows that the leather is of good quality. It not only changes and makes leather look better, but it also protects it with a layer on top. The shine makes the leather look even more fancy and classy. People really like leather bags, jackets, covers, and other things that have patina. They think they are the best and most real kinds of leather.
How to Care for Leather to Help It Age
Some people want their leather goods to get a patina on their own, while others want to speed up the process. If you're in the second group, here's how to clean and maintain leather so it lasts a long time:
- Condition often: Condition your leather every few months with patina leather conditioner to keep it from drying out, but don't go overboard! You don't want to soak the leather and stop it from getting its natural patina.
- Don't clean leather too much: Too much cleaning of leather is bad. It doesn't need to be cleaned every time. It just needs a quick wipe with a soft cloth. Cleaning too much can take the oils out of the leather and stop the beautiful patina from forming.
- Let It Breathe: Don't keep your leather in a hot, wet place. Keep leather in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight so that it can breathe.
